Tel thwarted as Everton snatch point

Idan Tal was the saviour for Everton last night as he scored the vital equaliser within two minutes of coming on as a substitute at Goodison Park.

The Israeli international replacedThomas Gravesen in the 76th minute, with the home side trailing 2-1 - and immediately found himself centre stage, rising to direct a Joe Max-Moore corner goalbound. Everton keeperThomas Myhre had been punished by Boro defender Colin Cooper 15 minutes earlier - just when Walter Smith's struggling side had managed to claw their way back onto level terms with a 49th-minute equaliser by Gary Naysmith.

The Everton keeper raced from his line to punch clear a cross from Curtis Fleming but was left stranded as his flailing fist failed to make the intended contact.

As the ball spun into the air, Myhre watched helplessly as the header from Cooper looped into the net. Everton manager Walter Smith made five changes to the side humiliated by Tranmere in the FA Cup, with Richard Gough, David Weir, Gary Naysmith, Joe-Max Moore and Duncan Ferguson replacing the axed David Unsworth, Danny Cadamarteri and Abel Xavier and injured Stephen Hughes and Mark Pembridge.

It appeared, initially at least, to have made little difference to his ailing side's fortunes.

Already troubled by Alen Boksic's pace and movement, Everton's defence was undone by the big striker's aerial prowess as he rose above two defenders to head Christian Karembeu's cross towards the far post.

It looked to be bouncing in anyway, but Hamilton Ricard made sure by applying the finishing touch from close range, with just 11 minutes on the clock. Smith's grievance on Saturday was the listless response toTranmere's opening goal as Everton fell away and allowed their First Division neighbours to run up an embarrassing 3-0 winning margin.

But he could not fault the way his players reacted this time as, with Ferguson breathing fire up front, they redoubled their efforts to get back on level terms. Ferguson's claim that Ugo Ehiogu had hauled him down in the area fell on deaf ears, while Naysmith also appealed in vain for a penalty after tumbling over an outstretched leg soon after. There was nothing sophisticated about Everton's approach but it tested Boro all the same, with Mark Schwarzer's area peppered with high balls from both flanks. Ferguson towered above Ehiogu to power a header narrowly over from a 13th-minute free kick byThomas Gravesen. Moore provided the ammunition with another free kick 10 minutes later, but again the finish lacked accuracy as Gough headed over. Safeguarding their advantage may have been Boro's priority, but they almost dealt Everton another telling blow in the 35th minute.